POV | Sook-Yin Lee on where she found the real Brampton
On our way to chow down on burgers and fries in Brampton, Ont., we pull up on Main St.
Stepping out of the rental car we're met by an enigmatic storefront window with a sign featuring a giant pair of scissors in vibrant Rasta colours: Blade Runner Barber Shop!
Sitting in a row of well-worn swivel barber chairs and black leather couches lining red walls, old timers, dads, tweens, Indo-Canadians and Afro-Canucks wait patiently to get their beards shaved and flattops raised. The eyes of my tour guide, Vinay Virmani, light up.
"Now this is the real Brampton. Let's go inside."
We jump at the chance 'cause often when you're out on the road the best experiences are the ones that are unplanned.
The man with long dreads tucked under a knit cap and wielding a buzzing shaver is Leighton. He's been running Blade Runner for 16 years. Leighton was originally studying something different when he wound up doing this. "It's a career that chose me."
He loves the conversations that take place in his beloved local hangout. "I've been cutting generations: the children, father, grandfather. People tend to come here to enjoy themselves or at least to get away from the day to day stress."
The young fellow Leighton's giving a buzz cut to is Jaskaran, visiting from Manila. His grandpops is the man with the long white beard and yellow turban sitting near us.
Vinay speaks with him in Hindi and finds out he immigrated to Canada 13 years ago but still misses the warm weather of his home country, the Philippines. Grandpa lives around the corner from Blade Runner and, though he grows his hair long in keeping with his Sikh faith, he's happy to bring his grandson here to get a haircut.
At the other end of the barber shop, there's a reverse generational influence: a nephew brings his uncle from Alberta in to get a shave.
The tween on a swivel chair getting a flattop (short at the sides, long up top) is a regular here at Blade Runner. He visits at least once a week.
I have a feeling he loves hanging out even more than getting a snazzy haircut. He agrees and beams, "It's so fun! Everyone talks to everyone. Nice and connected."
Vinay's right. This is a microcosm of Brampton!